The Community of Madrid on 17 October 2026 outlined the status of its breast cancer screening programme and urged people to take part. According to the authorities, routine screening currently targets women aged 50 to 69 who have no symptoms. Mammograms are offered in rounds approximately every two years. The regional government plans to extend the age range to 45 to 74; this will require additional capacity.
Health Minister Fátima Matute visited the Unidad de Mama at the public Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid. The visit took place shortly before World Breast Cancer Day on 19 October. The administration presented new and upgraded equipment: four mammography machines with 2D and 3D imaging, including contrast-enhanced techniques; four high-resolution breast ultrasound machines; an automated 3D ultrasound system; systems for prone abdominal and vacuum-assisted biopsies; and magnetic resonance imaging with dedicated coils and sequences. According to the statement, the unit is staffed by eight professionals.
About the programme DEPRECAM (Detección Precoz de Cáncer de Mama) cites figures from the previous year: in 2025, 1,928 suspected malignant cases were identified, equivalent to 1.68 per cent of the women screened. These cases were investigated through further diagnostic tests and treated where necessary. No further conclusions about the figures were published.
Invitations for examinations are sent by the region’s oncology coordination services. Women can also manage their appointments themselves through the Tarjeta Sanitaria Virtual and the associated app, via the Comunidad de Madrid website or by telephone. According to the authorities, up to 30 per cent of users use these digital channels to book appointments independently.
Today’s focus is on the continuation of an established screening programme. The extension of the age range has been announced politically, but has not yet been fully implemented. The regional government’s statement gave no specific timetable, additional staff posts or budget allocations.
The region cites international evidence to justify the screening, according to which early diagnoses improve treatment prospects. The latest statement contains no new information on the benefits and risks of mammography, such as false-positive results or overdiagnosis. Participation is voluntary, and the public healthcare system of the Comunidad de Madrid covers the costs.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).